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Master Of The Master Of The Occult – Mark Waid Talks Doctor Spektor

Published Sun, 08 Jun 2014 17:00:44 -0500

Mark Waid is taking the classic Gold Key comic character Doctor Spektor and giving him a modern make-over in the new Dynamite series Doctor Spektor: Master Of The Occult. Waid sits down with writer Shannon Eric Denton to talk about the modern ideas being brought into this new take on the character.

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: Doctor Spektor is a classic character but for those folks new to the character or excited to hear about your take, what can they expect from your story?

MARK WAID: They'll read the story of a paranormal investigator who redefines the word "paranormal." In Adam Spektor's world, things we think of as "supernatural" are real–vampires, ghosts, goblins, witches, you name 'em. And they're so much a part of the common fabric of everyone's lives that Spektor's a celebrated reality-tv personality; millions tune into his PPV events where he slays he undead or thwarts sorcerous villains by using his wits, his research, and his Scrooge McDuck fortune.

SED: The comics medium is such a visual collaboration, where the artist is articulating your words into drawings, what's your favorite part of that process in regards to Doctor Spektor?

MW: It's in watching how Neil Edwards inteprets the "supernatural" and visually distinguishes those elements from the "real world" elements in the book. He's masterful at giving each its own visual style and yet blending them together.

SED: Every comic company has mystical protagonists so what's your favorite part of Doctor Spektor that sets him apart from the rest?

MW: That he's got more money than God. That because he enjoys being a showman, it's worth it to him to spend fifty million dollars launching a specially designed sunlight-reflective satellite into orbit in order to defeat a vampire when, frankly, a wooden stake would do the job.

SED: The books are being launched individually but is there any chance fans can expect a "Gold Key" crossover in the future between the new titles published by Dynamite?

MW: I'd say there's a 100% chance–and it starts at the climax of issue one!

SED: What other upcoming projects from Mark Waid should fans be on the lookout for?

MW: Still working proudly on Daredevil for Marvel and on Empire for Thrillbent.com, the ten-years-in-the-making sequel to the Eisner-nominated villain-centric series Barry Kitson and I created. Come to Thrillbent and check it out!